NEWS

Mat Rempit Kena Sumpah

2008-01-27T06:02:00.000-08:00

Handphone Tiruan

2008-01-26T07:20:00.000-08:00

Tags: Nokia (N95), Sony Ericsson, Samsung. Veptu

Teknik Mengghairahkan Suami

2008-01-26T07:06:00.000-08:00

Sebagai isteri, tahukah anda apa yang diharapkan oleh suami dalam menjalin hubungan yang penuh kemesraan lagi hangat? Bagaimana pula sentuhan yang digemari si suami. Sebenarnya di sebalik sifat kelelakiannya, lelaki amat menyenangi sentuhan dan belaian wanita. Bagaimana dapat anda, seorang isteri penyayang, memancing ghairah suami tersayang? Dipersilakan membaca panduan-panduan di bawah.

Elakkan Dahulu

Janganlah anda fikir dengan tanpa seuratpun benang di tubuh anda, anda dapat dengan terus menaikkan ghairah suami anda. Anda seharusnya memakai pakaian malam/tidur yang tipis dan menampakkan bentuk dan lekukan-lekukan tubuh anda – keadaan yang mana anda masih berpakaian tetapi kelihatan seperti ‘bertelanjang’ beginilah yang dapat menaikkan nafsu suami untuk hebat menggauli anda.

Urai Rambutmu

Terutama bila anda berada di atas tubuhnya. Rambut anda yang lembut terurai berjuntaian dengan perlahan-lahan dapat menaikkan ghairah suami, apatah lagi bila dia terhidu keharuman rambut anda yang sentiasa berada dalam perapian itu.

Senyap Itu Indah

Adalah sesuatu yang membangkitkan hasrat seks lelaki apabila melihat isterinya membuka butang baju perlahan-lahan tanpa sepatahpun kata-kata. Diiringi senyuman mesra manja, suami tidak akan bersabar-sabar lagi untuk meraih anda ke dalam pelukannya.

Sentuhan Sehangat Kuku

Percaya atau tidak; lelaki boleh teransang apabila bahagian ini disentuh. Usaplah dengan lembut dan mainkan dengan bibir anda yang hangat itu. Ghairah birahinya pasti tidak terperi-peri lagi.

Hadiah Sensasi

Isteri dapat meransang keinginan batin suami dengan membakar mata suaminya melalui ‘hadiah’ yang dianugerahkan. Misalnya, bekas gigitan cinta atau cakaran yang anda tinggalkan di tubuhnya malam tadi membuatkan dia terkenang-kenang kepada anda. Juga, meninggalkan pakaian dalam di tempat tidur untuk kemudiannya dijumpai olehnya dapat menaikkan semula kelelakiannya.

Zon Rasa

Kulit bahagian dalam paha anda mampu meransang suami anda kerana ianya lembut dan mempesonakan pancainderanya. Apatah lagi bila disentuhnya, anda kegelian. Ini akan menyebabkan suami anda berasa lebih ‘macho’ perkasa.

Daerah Rangsangan

Mudah sahaja caranya: mainkan hujung lidah anda dengan lembut di bahagian luar cuping telinga suami. Gerakkan lidah turun naik di bahagian belakang telinga hingga terus ke leher. Lakukan perlahan-lahan dengan penuh kemesraan.

Sentuhan Kasih Sayang

Kelembutan sentuhan wanita menjadi impian setiap lelaki. Kucupan lembut dan usapan halus menggunakan hujung jemari anda mampu menggoda suami dan menyebabkan dia terkulai manja di dalam dakapan anda.

Bangkitkan Suasana

Selain pancaran sinar malap lampu tidur atau sebatang lilin dan juga alunan muzik yang lembut mendayu, suasana romantis dapat dihidupkan dengan semburan wangian sekitar kamar tidur. Anda diminta mengenakan wangian kegemarannya, minyak aromaterapi, losyen atau kain sutera yang dibiarkan menyentuh lembut kulit suami.

Pesona Pandangan

Tatapan mempesonakan yang penuh perasaan kasih juga sayang terhadap suami anda cukup untuk mempamerkan perasaan anda terhadapnya. Tidak perlu anda berkata-kata, renungan anda yang meruntun itu cukup untuk membuatkan dia terkesima.

Membelai Nyata

Suami akan berasa lebih disayangi jika anda pandai mengusap rambutnya. Apabila duduk bersama, belailah mahkota lebatnya itu. Usaplah perlahan-lahan menyisir dengan jemari anda dari dahi hingga ke belakang lehernya.

Intipan Geram

Perbuatan mengendap merupakan salah satu cara lelaki menaikkan ghairahnya sendiri. Tanpa disedari oleh wanita, dorongan seks lelaki mudah timbul oleh ransangan visual terutama pabila wanita mengenakan pakaian ataupun ketika mandi. Oleh demikian, usah menolak apabila si dia suami anda tiba-tiba mahu bersama anda sebaik sahaja anda melangkah keluar daripada kamar mandi.

Puputan Nafas

Hembusan nafas anda yang hangat akan menaikkan ghairah suami anda. Sentuhlah perlahan bibir anda ke bibirnya. Nafas hangat anda akan menyebabkan dia tidak sabar-sabar lagi mahu mencumbui anda.

Planet G-Spot

Suami juga mempunyai g-spotnya (hot-spot) yang tersendiri. Cari dan terokalah. Pancinglah si dia dengan memainkan peranan anda di zon sensasi miliknya itu .

Elak Sahaja Menyentuh Kelemahannya

Jangan sentuh kelemahan yang ada di tubuh suami anda. Tumpukan pada bahagian yang menjadi kebanggaannya seperti dadanya yang bidang, bahu atau hujung lengannya.

Sepantas Kilat

Bila mana anda mahu membuat suami anda lekas ghairah, ambillah tindakan yang agak agresif. Tarik dia ke sofa dan bertindak secepat kilat. Tetapi, sebelum itu pastikan keadaan sekitar ‘selamat.’

Kejutan Halwa Mata

Suami akan mengagumi anda, andai anda senantiasa membuat kejutan dari masa ke semasa untuk disaksikannya. Ini termasuk, membuat perubahan daripada segi penampilan anda, seperti dandanan rambut fesyen terbaru atau mengenakan pakaian dalam yang terseksi yang baru anda temui di gedung atau butik pakaian kegemaran anda.

Hukum Pelaburan ASN/ASB

2008-01-20T16:04:00.000-08:00

Soalan: Sekarang ini banyak bank-bank yang menawarkan pinjaman untuk meminjam dan melabur dalam Amanah Saham Bumiputra.Apakah hukumnya

Jawapan:
Ulama' di Malaysia berselisih pandangan mengenai hukum ASB.

Fatwa Mufti Kerajaan Negeri Perak mengatakan ia HARUS. Jawapannya sepertimana di bawah:

Untuk makluman tuan mesyuarat jawatankuaa syariah perak yang berlangsung pada 1 Ogos 1992, membuat keputusan berdasarkan pendapat terbanyak serta dengan alasanalasan
syarak yang dikemukakan adalah seperti berikut :

“Bermuamalah dengan skim ASN dan ASB adalah harus dan segala keuntungannya berupa dividen atau bonus hukumnya HALAL”.

Antara alasan-alasan yang dikemukakan ialah :
1. Penglibatan umat Islam dengan skim ASN dan ASB yang ditaja oleh kerajaan bagi membiak, mengembang dan meningkat ekonomi orang Islam di Negara ini yang
bermuamalah. Apabila didapati pelaburannya kepada yang halal lebih banyak daripada yang haram hukumnya adalah HARUS sepertimana nas yang terdapat didalam kitab.

2. Kedudukan ekonomi anak bumi khasnya umat Islam di negara ini dalam keadaan tenat dan sampai ke tahap darurat. Darurat yang dimaksudkan itu ialah dilihat dari aspek ekonomi umat secara berkelompok bukan dari sudut individu.

lihat: http://mufti.perak.gov.my/kemusykilan/asn.pdf

TG Dato' Seri Abd Hadi Awang menjelaskan:

"Ada pun ASB ini tidak jelas dan kita sendiri pun tidak tahu di ‎mana dia melabur. Bila kita tidak tahu ianya termasuk dalam perkara subahat. ‎Oleh itu, yang mana hak kita, itu hak kitalah seperti modalnya, untungnya itu ‎hak kita. Tetapi di sana ada yang meragukan dan kita tidak tahu. Jika ada ‎begitu, mengikut cara Islam, kalau kita hendak bersih, kita kena ambil sedikit ‎atau sebahagian dan tidak semestinya separuh, mengikut yang patut yang kita ‎fikir untuk diberi kepada fakir miskin atau beri kepada untuk kepentingan awam ‎seperti tempat tunggu bas atau untuk kepentingan awam yang lain. Ini salah satu ‎cara yang dibuat oleh ulama untuk membersihkan sumber yang kita dapat. Kerana ‎mngikut Islam amalan kebajikan itu boleh menolong membersihkan harta dari ‎sumber-sumber subahat.‎"

"hukum menyertainya juga adalah HARAM."

Lihat: http://www.harakahdaily.net/article.php?sid=5847

Bekas Mufti Selangor, Dato' Ishak Baharom dan Bekas YDP Persatuan Ulama Malaysia, Ustaz Hj. Ahmad Awang menyatakan bahawa malabur di dalam ASB adalah HARAM kerana ia terlibat dengan kegiatan perniagaan yang tidak halal. Oleh itu sebagai seorang Islam yang menyedari bahawa tujuan kita hidup adalah untuk mencari keredaan Allah, maka kita perlu menarik keluar wang yang telah kita laburkan dengan segera.

Selepas itu proses yang dikenali sebagai proses " pemebersihan perlu dilakukan". Kita hanya berhak menggunakan wang asal kita ( modal asal yang kita gunakan untuk melabur ). Sementara itu wang dividen ( keuntungan yang diperolihi hasil daripada pelaburan ) boleh di salurkan ke tempat-tempat kabajikan dan sebagainya.

Firman Allah di dalam surah Al-Baqarah ayat 279 yang bermaksud : "sekiranya kamu bertaubat maka untuk kamu modal-modal kamu , kamu tidak menzalimi dan tidak dizalimi ."

Oleh itu, bagi kami, selagi ASN/ASB terlibat dengan pelaburan tidak jelas, pelaburan kaunter haram, dan pelaburan di bank yang mengamalkan sistem riba, maka hukum menyertainya juga adalah HARAM sepertimana yang dinyatakan oleh kebanyakkan ulama'.

Justeru, umat Islam yang malabur di dalam institusi kewangan seperti ini , perlu mencari alternatif yang lebih diyakini halalnya. Biarpun keuntungan sedikit tetapi yang penting ianya benar-benar suci demi kebahagian hidup kita di dunia dan di akhirat.

Ada beberapa amanah saham yang mengisytiharkan diri mereka pelaburan 100% halal, antaranya ASDI, ASK, Abrar Trust fund, Tabung Pertama bank Islam bhd, Tabung Ittikal Arab malaysia, Tabung Haji, UNIT TRUST, dan lain-lain; maka pilihlah salah satu amanah saham tersebut.

wallahu a'alam

Sumber: Suara Persatuan Ulama Malaysia

Can a husband take a picture of his wife whilst she is naked or film their bedroom relations?

2008-01-12T20:08:00.001-08:00

Question: Is it permissible for a husband to take a picture of his wife whilst she is naked and vice versa? Also is it permissble for the husband and wife to take pictures of themselves or use a camcorder to record themselves having sexual intercourse, and thereafter look at the photos or watch the video?

Answer:

In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,

Regardless of the difference of opinion between the contemporary scholars about the ruling on photography, (even though, the position taken by virtually all scholars of the Indian Subcontinent and great Arab scholars is that photographs fall under the rubric of taswir (picture-making) of living creatures and humans, which has been explicitly forbidden in over 20 authentic hadiths, see: Reliance of the Traveller), the taking of nude pictures of the spouse or recording the act of sexual intercourse and thereafter viewing it cannot be considered permissible.

There are few reasons for this:

Firstly, it is disliked for the spouses to be completely naked during the act of sexual intercourse. Scholars mention, however, that although it is permissible for the spouses to look at any part of the partner’s body, it is disliked that they become completely naked. A cover or sheet over the naked bodies would be sufficient.

Sayyida Aisha (Allah be pleased with her) said: “I never saw the Messenger of Allah’s (Allah bless him & give him peace) private parts”. (Sunan Ibn Majah, no. 662).

Secondly, to expose the naked body in front of a stranger is absolutely unlawful (haram) in that Shariah.

Also, to give someone the opportunity to view one’s nakedness (awra) in any way, shape or form is impermissible. By taking nude pictures of one’s self or recording the act of sexual intercourse may give someone this opportunity. The pictures taken or the video tape could be misplaced and get into the hands of a stranger. One may lose the tape and it could be picked up by another person. Imagine, if the son or daughter of the couple involved got hold of the tape, what would their reaction be?

The argument that the tape would be hidden and prevented from getting in to the hands of a third person is not valid for the simple reason that there is this possibility. Some unusual occurrence can transpire, thus it is possible for a third person to get hold of the tape. The well-established principle of Islamic jurisprudence states: “Prevent evil before it actually happens.” (sadd al-dhara’i).

Thirdly, and finally, Islam is a religion of modesty. It does not approve of one stripping naked even when alone in a room, for Allah has a greater right that one should observe modesty before Him. Thus, it is necessary (wajib) in the Hanafi school, and highly recommended by others, to cover one’s minimum nakedness [between navel and knee for both men and women] even when alone. [Haskafi, Durr al-Mukhtar; Ibn Nujaym, al-Bahr al-Ra’iq] The exception to this is when there is a need, such as taking a shower, relieving oneself, or changing one’s clothes. Even in such situations, it is recommended to minimize the exposure.

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said: “Modesty is of faith (iman)”. (Sahih al-Bukhari & Sahih Muslim).

Ya’la ibn Umayya reports that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said: “Verily Allah is modest and discreet and He likes modesty and discretion. When one of you takes a bath, one should cover one’s self”. (Sunan Abu Dawud, Sunan Nasa’I & Musnad Ahmad). This is a command of recommendation when alone.

Due to the above reasons, it would not be permissible for the spouses to take nude pictures or record the act of cohabitation. This is disregarding the fact that many scholars hold picture making and photography impermissible from the outset.

And Allah knows best

Answered by Mufti Muhammad ibn Adam al-Kawthari of the Hanafi fiqh list.

Viagra (Sildenafil Citrate)

2008-01-12T20:02:00.001-08:00

A fatwa given recently by Shaikh bin Baz on 26/06/98 in Riyadh when questioned as to whether the drug Viagra(Sildenafil Citrate)which is currently being used for treating erectile dysfunction was permissible to use.

The Shaikh said "Using the drug that helps sexual intrecourse is permitted and there is no legal Islamic prohibition provided it did not contain ingredients that may harm health or an intoxicant material"quoted from Okaz newspaper

Currently the drug is not prescribable on the NHS but may be later this year (Allah knows best). The only contra-indication for its use at present is the concurrent use of oral nitrate preparations for the treatment of angina since it is a potent vasodilator. Viagra was originally being researched as a treatment for angina.

Condoms

2008-01-12T19:55:00.000-08:00

It is permissible to use condoms so long as this does not cause any harm and so long as both husband and wife consent to their use, because this is similar to ‘azl (coitus interruptus or “withdrawal”). But it reduces the sensation of pleasure, which is the right of both partners, and reduces the chance of conception, which is also the right of both partners. Neither one of them is allowed to deprive the other of these rights. And Allaah is the course of strength.

Anal Sex

2008-01-12T19:53:00.000-08:00

Anal intercourse with one's wife is a major sin, whether it occurs at the time of menstruation or not. The Prophet SAWS (Peace & Blessings of Allah be upon Him) cursed the one who does this: "Cursed is the one who approaches his wife in her rectum" (Reported by Imaam Ahmad, 2/479; see also Saheeh al-Jaami', 5865).

The Prophet SAWS (Peace & Blessings of Allah be upon Him) also said: "The one who has intercourse with a menstruating woman, or with a woman in her rectum, or who goes to a fortune-teller, has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammad." (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, no. 1/243; see also Saheeh al-Jaami', 5918).

In spite of the fact that many wives of sound nature refuse this, there are some husbands who threaten their wives with divorce if they do not obey them (in this matter), and some even deceive their wives, who are too shy to ask scholars about it, into thinking that it is permissible. The Prophet SAWS (Peace & Blessings of Allah be upon Him) said that a man may approach his wife in any way he likes, from the front or the back, so long as intercourse takes place in the place from through which a child is born. There is no doubt that the rectum is the place from which waste matter is expelled, not the place from which a child is born.

Another reason why some may commit this immoral act is that they enter upon what should be a clean married life with some jaahili (ignorant) traditions and odd practices, or with memories of scenes from indecent movies, for which they have not repented to Allaah.

It is known that this act is forbidden even if both partners agree to it. Mutual consent to a haraam deed does not make it halaal.

I ask Allah to bestow upon us a proper understanding of His religion and to make us adhere to its limits, for He is the All-Hearing, the One Who answers prayers.

Oral Sex

2008-01-12T19:46:00.000-08:00

Is oral sex permitted?

Books of fiqh tend to be quite dry when it comes to bedroom behavior. What you usually find is in the form "everything is permissible, except for x, y, and z" instead of a detailed checklist of things to try if you wish. While the traditional approach of generality is fine as a teaching tool for students of knowledge who would be asked specific questions, it is less effective when laymen have no one to ask, when the only people available to ask mean well and know a bit more than the questioner but are laymen themselves, or when laymen go to the books directly.

So, since the issue of oral sex is frequently asked it seems necessary to give a general answer. I apologize that the questioner is going to get less and more than he originally asked for.

The basic list of things that are unlawful between husband and wife include:

* Anal sex
* Sex during menstruation and nifas
* Sex that would be harmful or prolong recovery from an illness

When books talks about what is lawful, they typically mention that a husband and wife may pleasure one another in any way they wish other than the above mentioned things. Although not specific to sex, we can add the following:

* Swallowing filth
* Needlessly getting filthy These things are obvious.

Regarding the issue of oral sex, if it can be done in such a way that no filth is involved, then from the perspective of lawful and prohibited it in and of itself would be considered lawful. But the term "oral sex" covers a wide range of activities, and there are differences between the various schools of fiqh regarding the purity and filth of bodily fluids, namely: sperm and vaginal secretions; there seems to be agreement among the Hanafis, Shafi`is, and Hanbalis that pre-ejaculatory fluid is filthy.

Something that entirely escapes the problem of filth is a man kissing the outer parts of his wife's genitals and sucking her clitoris. The first is mentioned in many books of Hanbali fiqh, saying that it is permissible before penetration and offensive after; and to clarify: the issue mentioned is not restricted to the outer parts. The second is mentioned in the Shafi`i work Fath Al-Mu`in and its meta-commentary `Iyanat Al-Talibin. For further reference, look through the index of the book of marriage for the sections concerning looking at members of the opposite sex and the sections conerning bedroom behavior .

Based on the basic guidelines above and based on the example of a man kissing his wife's genitals, it should also be lawful for a wife to kiss her husband's penis as long as she avoids any areas where there is pre-ejaculatory fluid.

But what Westerners usually have in mind when they talk about oral sex are fellatio and cunnilingus. Regarding pre-ejaculatory fluid, the only opinion I have ever seen is that it is haram. Additionally, even though the Shafi`is and Hanbali schools both consider sperm to be pure, they both agree that it is unlawful to swallow. This makes fellatio very highly likely to be unlawful. I suppose an enthusiastic couple could always use a condom.

As for cunnilingus: there are differences of opinion regarding whether or not vaginal secretions are pure or filthy, before and after penetration, and depending on where they are secreted from. Because of this, it is best avoided.

Should a couple decide to perform these acts, they must be sure to rinse out their mouths afterwards. This is something they should be doing in any case, and it is an essential part of purification for Hanbalis.

For added benefit and so we don't need to repeat this topic again: Hanbali books mention that it is lawful for a husband to achieve ejaculation by his wife masturbating him, and by rubbing his penis between her thighs or breasts. They also mention that while anal sex is absolutely unlawful, it is lawful to place a finger on the anus as long as it does not penetrate. One of the reasons for mentioning these detailed examples is to show that they were not unknown to the scholars, and in sha Allah to add strength to the idea that the general rulings mentioned in the books are sufficient for working out these detailed cases.

Up to here the topic concerns the lawful and the prohibited. But this issue is a completely separate from whether these acts should be done, and whether one spouse can compel the other one to do them.

When I asked my sheikh about these very issues he pointed out that while each spouse is responsible to provide for the other spouse's sexual needs and to keep them chaste, it is absolutely unlawful to abuse one another, mentally or physically. He also points out that Allah Most High in the Qur'an orders husband and wife to act amicably and well towards one another, and one needlessly forcing the other to do something--even when they have the right to demand it--goes against this principle. I once asked whether or not it was disobedience [nushuz] if husband demanded fellatio from his and she refused. His answer was that she is ordered to submit herself to him for intercourse: something she has not denied him here.

Even if people find this whole topic disgusting in practice, we should take note that the example given in the books is one where it is the wife who receives physical pleasure, not the husband, and that the location mentioned is the one most likely to bring about an orgasm. So much for the idea that Islam totally ignores the sexual needs of women, rendering them as little more than house keepers and sex toys for the husband's every whim. That the example of oral sex in fiqh books is for her pleasure and satisfaction should not go unnoticed.

And Allah knows best.

Answered by Sidi Musa Furber of the Hanbali Fiqh list

Darwinism's Contradiction with Religion

2008-01-12T18:18:00.000-08:00

In our day, some circles hold the view that Charles Darwin's theory of evolution does not contradict with religion, and that those who renounce the theory of evolution unnecessarily promote it. This view, however, includes many misconceptions. It is the result of a failure to grasp the main tenet of Darwinism and the extremely dangerous outlook it mandates. That is why, for those who have faith in the existence of God, the mere Creator of all living-beings, yet carry the conviction that "God created living beings through evolution", it would be quite useful to primarily review the fundamental tenets of the theory. In this essay, in an endeavour to warn believers who have this misconception, some essential scientific and logical explanations regarding why the theory of evolution is not compatible with Islam and the fact of Creation it introduces to mankind, are provided.

The basic tenet of Darwinism holds that living beings came into being spontaneously, as a result of coincidences. This view is completely contrary to the faith of Creation.

The most important misconception of those who think that the theory of evolution does not contradict with creation is their assumption that the basic assertion of the theory of evolution is that living beings came into existence through evolving from one another. Accordingly, they comment: "There is no reason why God did not create all living beings by making them evolve from one another; so what is the rationale to raise objection to it?" However, there is a very important point here which is ignored: the essential difference between the advocates of evolution and creation is not based on the question of whether "living beings appeared individually or through evolving from each other. The main question is "whether living beings came into existence by chance and as result of natural events, or they were consciously created?"

The theory of evolution, as known, claims that inorganic chemical compounds came together by chance and as a result of randomly occurring natural phenomena, they formed first the building blocks of life and ultimately life. Consequently, in its core, this claim accepts time, inorganic matter and chance to be creative powers. Even the layman, who is somewhat acquainted with the literature of evolution, is aware that this is the basis of the claims of evolutionists. Not surprisingly, despite being an evolutionist scientist, Pierre Paul Grassé, acknowledges the implausibility of the theory and summarises what the concept of "coincidence" means for evolutionists:

"…Chance becomes a sort of providence, which, under the cover of atheism, is not named but which is secretly worshipped." (Pierre Paul Grassé, Evolution of Living Organisms, New York, Academic Press, 1977, p.107)

That life is an arbitrary by-product of the compound formed by time, matter and coincidence, on the other hand, is a nonsense claim unacceptable by those who have faith in the existence of God as the sole Creator of all living beings. Believers should assume the responsibility to save societies from such perverted and unreal beliefs and warn them.

The claim of "coincidence" put forward by the theory of evolution is denied by science.

Another significant fact that deserves a special consideration about this subject is that scientific discoveries also definitely refute the evolutionist claims that "life emerged as a result of pure coincidences and natural phenomena." This is because there are extraordinarily complex examples of design in life. Even the cell of a living being is a great wonder of design that totally annuls the concept of "coincidence".

This superior design and plan in life are certainly indications of God's unique and matchless creation, of His eternal knowledge and might.

The efforts of evolutionists to explain the origins of life with chance are rejected by science in the 20^th century and today, in the 21^st century, they met a total defeat. (See Harun Yahya, Blunders of Evolutionists, Vural Publishing) Indeed, the reason why they deny Creation although they see this fact is their blind adherence to irreligiousness
.
God did not create living beings through an evolutionary process

Since the existence of creation, in other words, a conscious design, is obvious, the only question that remains is "through what kind of a process the living beings were created." The misconception of some faithful people emerges right at this point: The wrong reasoning that "Living being could have been created by evolving from one another" is actually related to how the process of creation occurred.

Indeed, had God willed, He could have created living beings through an evolutionary process from nothingness, as the abovementioned individuals propose. And had science proved that living beings evolved from each other, we could say, "God created life through evolution." For instance, if there were any evidence available that reptiles evolved to form birds, then we would say, "God transformed reptiles into birds with His command 'Be'!". Ultimately, both these living beings individually possess bodies overflowing with examples of perfect design, which cannot be explained away by chance. Transformation of these designs into one another -had such a thing really happened- would surely be another evidence for creation.

However, the situation is not so. Scientific evidence (especially the fossil record and comparative anatomy) point to the contrary; there is not single evidence on earth that an evolutionary process took place on the earth. The fossil record clearly indicate that different living species did not appear on earth through evolving from one another by fine gradations, but that on the contrary, distinct living species appeared on earth suddenly fully formed and without any preceding ancestors similar to them. Neither birds sprung from reptiles, nor fish transformed into land-dwelling animals. Each living phylum is created individually with its traits particular to its kind. Even the most renowned evolutionists had to accept this fact and confess that this provides an evidence for Creation. For instance, evolutionist palaeontologist Mark Czarnecki confesses as follows:

"A major problem in proving the theory (evolution theory) has been the fossil record; the imprints of vanished species preserved in the Earth's geological formations. This record has never revealed traces of Darwin's hypothetical intermediate variants - instead species appear and disappear abruptly, and this anomaly has fueled the creationist argument that each species was created by God. (Mark Czarnecki, "The Revival of the Creationist Crusade", MacLean's, 19 January 1981, p. 56)

Especially during the last fifty years, developments in various scientific fields such as palaeontology, microbiology, genetics and comparative anatomy, and new discoveries show that the theory of evolution is untrue and living beings appeared on earth all of a sudden in their distinct and perfect forms. Therefore, there is no reason to suggest that God employed the process of evolution in Creation. God created every species individually and at one moment, with His command of "Be!" This is a certain and explicit fact.

Conclusion

It is of vital importance for people of faith to be alert and cautious against the ideological systems committed to struggle against God and religion. For 150 years, Darwinism provided a so-called scientific ground for all anti-religionist ideologies that caused misery for mankind, such as fascism, communism, and imperialism and legitimised the merciless practises of those who adopted these philosophies. Hence, it would not be right to ignore the inner truth and the real purpose of such a theory. For each Muslim of conscience, it is a major responsibility to disprove every anti-religious ideology rejecting the existence of God with a thought struggle, to demolish falsehood with truth and warn people.

Why a Scientist Believes in God

2008-01-12T18:15:00.001-08:00

This article of Mr A. Cressy Morrison, former President of the New York Academy of Sciences, first appeared in the "Reader's Digest" (January 1948); then on recommendation of Professor C. A. Coulson, F. R.S., Professor of Mathematics at Oxford University, was republished in the "Reader's Digest" November 1960 - It shows how science compels the scientists to admit to the essential need of a Supreme Creator.

We are still in the dawn of the scientific age and every increase of light reveals more brightly the handiwork of an intelligent Creator. In the 90 years since Darwin we have made stupendous discoveries; with a spirit of scientific humanity and of faith grounded in knowledge we are approaching even nearer to an awareness of God. For myself I count seven reasons for my faith.

First: By unwavering mathematical law we can prove that our universe was designed and executed by a great engineering Intelligence. Suppose you put ten coins, marked from one to ten, into your pocket and give them a good shuffle. Now try to take them out in sequence from one to ten, pulling back the coin each time and shaking them all again. Mathematically we know that your chance of first drawing number one is one in ten; of drawing one and two in succession, one in 100; of drawing one, two and three in succession, one in a thousand, and so on; your chance of drawing them all, from one to number ten in succession, would reach the unbelievable figure of one chance in ten thousand million. By the same reasoning, so many exacting conditions are necessary for life on earth that they could not possibly exist in proper relationship by chance. The earth rotates on its axis at one thousand miles an hour; if it turned at one hundred miles an hour, our days and nights would be ten times as long as now, and the hot sun would then burn up our vegetation during each long day, while in the long night any surviving sprout would freeze. Again, the sun, source of our life, has a surface temperature of 12,000 degrees Fahrenheit, and our earth is, just far enough away so that this 'eternal fire" warms us just enough and not too much! If the sun gave off only one-half its present radiation, we would freeze, and if it gave half as much more, we would roast. The slant of the earth, tilted at an angle of 23 degrees, gives us our season; if it had not been so tilted, vapors from the ocean would move north and south, piling up for us continents of ice. If our moon was, say, only 50 thousand miles away instead of its actual distance, our tides would be so enormous that twice a day all continents would be submerged; even the mountains would soon be eroded away. If the crust of the earth had been only ten feet thicker, there would be no oxygen without which animal life must die. Had the ocean been a few feet deeper, carbon dioxide and oxygen would have been absorbed and no vegetable life could exist. Or if our atmosphere had been thinner, some of the meteors, now burned in space by the million every day would be striking all parts of the earth, starting fires everywhere. Because of these, and host of other examples, there is not one chance in millions that life on our planet is an accident.

Second: The resourcefulness of life to accomplish its purpose is a manifestation of all-pervading Intelligence. What life itself is no man has fathomed. It has neither weight nor dimensions, but it does have force; a growing root will crack a rock. Life has conquered water, land and air, mastering the element, compelling them to dissolve and reform their combinations. Life, the sculptor, shapes all living things; an artist, it designs every leaf of every tree, and colours every flower. Life is a musician and has each bird to sing its love songs, the insects to call each other in the music of their multitudinous sounds. Life is a sublime chemist, giving taste to fruits and spices, and perfume to the rose changing water and carbonic acid into sugar and wood and, in so doing, releasing oxygen that animals may have the breath of life. Behold an almost invisible drop of protoplasm, transparent and jelly-like, capable of motion, drawing energy from the sun. This single cell, this transparent mist-like droplet, holds within itself the germ of life, and has the power to distribute this life to every living thing, great and small. The powers of this droplet are greater than our vegetation and animals and people, for all life came from it. Nature did not create life; fire-blistered rocks and a salt less sea could not meet the necessary requirements. Who, then, has put it here?

Third: Animal wisdom speaks irresistibly of a good Creator who infused instinct into otherwise helpless little creatures. The young salmon spends years at sea, then comes back to his own river; and travels up the very side of the river into which flows The tributary where he was born. What brings him back so precisely? If you transfer him to another tributary he will know at once that he is off his course and he will fight his way down and back to the main stream and then turn up against the current to finish his destiny more accurately. Even more difficult to solve is the mystery of eels. These amazing creatures migrate at maturity from all ponds and rivers everywhere - those from Europe across thousands of miles of oceans - all bound for the same abysmal deeps near Bermuda. There they breed and die. The little ones, with no apparent means of knowing anything except that they are in a wilderness of water nevertheless find their way back not only to the very shore from which their parent came but thence to the rivers, lakes or little ponds - so that each body of water is always populated with eels. No American eel has ever been caught in Europe, no European eel in American waters. Nature has even delayed the maturity of the European eel by a year or more to make up for its longer journey. Where does the directing iruptilse originate? A wasp will overpower a grasshopper, dig a hole in the earth, sting the grasshopper in exactly the right place so that he does not die but becomes unconscious and lives on as a form of preserved meat. Then the wasp will lay her eggs handily so that her children when they hatch can nibble without killing the insect on which they feed, to them dead meat would be fatal. The mother then flies way and dies; she never sees her young. Surely the wasp must have done all this right the first time and every time, or else there would be no wasp. Such mysterious techniques cannot be explained by adaptation; they were bestowed.

Fourth: Man has something more than animal instinct - the power of reason. No other animal has ever left a record of its ability to count ten or even to understand the meaning of ten. Where instinct is like a single note of a flute, beautiful but limited, the human brain contains all the notes of all the instruments in the orchestra. No need to belabour this fourth point; thanks to the human reason we can contemplate the possibility that we are what we are only because we have received a spark of Universal Intelligence.

Fifth: Provision for all living is revealed in phenomena which we know today but which Darwin did not know - such as the wonders of genes. So unspeakably tiny are these genes that, if all of them responsible for all living people in the world could be put in one place, there would be less than a thimbleful. Yet these ultra- microscopic genes and their companions, the chromosomes, inhabit every living cell and are the absolute keys to all human, animal and vegetable characteristics. A thimble is a small place in which to put all the individual characteristics of two thousand million human beings. However; the facts are beyond question. Well then, how do genes lock up all the normal heredity of a multitude of ancestors and preserve the psychology of each in such an infinitely small space? Here evolution really begins - at the cell, the entity which holds and carries genes. How a few million atoms, locked up as an ultra-microscopic gene, can absolutely rule all on earth is an example of profound cunning and provision that could emanate only from a Creative Intelligence - no other hypothesis will serve.

Sixth: By the economy of nature, we are forced to realize that only infinite wisdom could have foreseen and prepared with such astute husbandry. Many years ago a species of cactus was planted in Australia as a protective fence. Having no insect enemies in Australia the cactus soon began a prodigious growth; the alarming abundance persisted until the plants covered an area as long and wide as England, crowding inhabitants out of the towns and villages, and destroying their farms. Seeking a defence, the entomologists scoured the world; finally they turned up an insect which exclusively feeds on cactus, and would eat nothing else. It would breed freely too; and it had no enemies in Australia. So animal soon conquered vegetable and today the cactus pest has retreated, and with it all but a small protective residue of the insects, enough to hold the cactus in check for ever. Such checks and balances have been universally provided. Why have not fast-breeding insects dominated the earth? Because they have no lungs such as man possesses; they breathe through tubes. But when insects grow large, their tubes do not grow in ratio to the increasing size of the body. Hence there has never been an insect of great size; this limitation on growth has held them all in check. If this physical check had not been provided, man could not exist. Imagine meeting a hornet as big as a lion!

Seventh: The fact that man can conceive the idea of God is in itself a unique proof. The conception of god rises from a divine faculty of man, unshared with the rest of our world - the faculty we call imagination. By its power, man and man alone can find the evidence of things unseen. The vista that power opens up is unbounded; indeed, as man is perfected, imagination becomes a spiritual reality.

Earth’s Seven Layers

2008-01-12T08:48:00.000-08:00

Author: Abdul Daem Al-Kaheel
Translation: Nassim JamalEddin Dhaher

When scientists started to probe the valleys of Earth and in order to know its structure and constituents, they found that tales and myths that dominated in the earlier centuries have no scientific basis. After scientists discovered that the earth is egg-shaped , they suggested that the core of this ball has a nucleus, and its shell is a very thin crust when compared to the Earth’s size, and between these two layers, there is a third, known as the mantle . this was the knowledge of the early scientists.

Development of Scientific Facts

The Three Layer -Theory did not last for so long due to recent discoveries in Geology. Recent measurements and experiments showed that the material comprising the nucleus of the Earth is under very high pressure, three million times more than that on the surface of the Earth.

Under such pressure, matter transforms into solid state, this in turn makes Earth’s core very solid,This core is surrounded by a liquid layer of very high temperature. This means that there are two layers in Earth’s core and not one.Two layers; one solid in the center surrounded by another liquid layer.

Thereafter measuring devices advanced and presented to scientists a clear distinction among Earth’s inner layers. If we were to descend under the earth’s crust we would find another layer of very hot stones , which is the stone cover or wrap. After that come three other distinct layers of varying density, pressure and temperature.

Therefore scientists found themselves classifying the layers of Earth into seven layers, not more. The figure shows these layers with their dimensions (some are out of scale) according to what scientists have recently found using methods like earthquake measuring devices and the study of Earth’s magnetic field, among other techniques. These studies and discoveries are being taught to these scientists’ students in universities.

Figure showing Earth’s seven layers, notice that the crust is very thin followed by mantle of varying thickness, then came the core comprised of a liquid and finally a seventh solid nucleus.

Scientists have found that the atom is also comprised of seven layers or levels, and this proves the uniformity of creation, where Earth has seven layers and atoms have seven layers as well. This creation therefore is ruled by only one creator.

Earth’s seven layers vary greatly in structure, density, temperature and material. Therefore one cannot consider that Earth has only one layer as people anciently thought. Here we find that the idea of the Earth having layers is fairly recent and wasn’t presented or brought forward at the time when the Quran was being revealed. Those discoveries are what the Twenty First century -scientists tell us, What then does the book of Allah tell us?

In the Company of the Noble Quran

The Holy Quran, God's word , talks to us about the seven Heavens and also seven layers of Earth in the Quranic verses:

God says in the Holy Quran in this regard what means “Who has created the seven heavens one above another…” [Al-Mulk 3]

God says in the Holy Quran in this regard what means “It is Allah Who has created seven heavens and of the earth the like thereof (i.e. seven).” [Attalaq 12

The first verse has specified two traits for the heavens which are: their number which is seven, their organization, which is into layers , one on the of top of the other and this is according to the Quranic interpretation books and Arabic language dictionaries. As for the second verse, it confirms that Earth is similar to the Heavens from the part of the verse that says “…and of the earth the like thereof”, where since the Heavens are layers, then Earth is comprised of layers as well, and since the Heavens are seven, therefore Earth’s layers are seven as well.

Here we need to pause and elaborate on Allah’s choice of words in the word: “Tibaqa” – which means layers one on top of another, and this is what scientists have recently discovered that Earth is comprised of layers, this in turn leads us to conclude that Al-Qur`an defined Earth’s shape, of layers, and it (Al-Quran) has also specified the number of these layers, seven. Henceforth Al-Qur`an chose a very specific word to describe Earth’s composition, so Al-Qur`an preceded the Twenty First Century scientists in mentioning Earths facts fourteen centuries ago. Isn’t this an overwhelming Quranic miracle?

If we contemplate 0n the Noble Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) Hadeeth (sayings), we find one Hadeeth that confirms this fact of Earth’s seven overlapping layers. Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings be upon him) says: “whomever oppressed someone a hand span’s distance from the Earth, gets surrounded by seven overlapping layers”[Bukhari 2321], the Hadeeth is telling us that Allah will punish those who oppress in Earth by being encircled and surrounded by seven Earthly layers. This definition for the word “Tawaqa” that was used in the Hadeeth is as found in Arabic Language Dictionaries.

The question here is: Isn’t this a great prophetic miracle? doesn’t this Hadeeth specify the number of Earth’s layers which are seven, and also mentions their nature of being overlapped or surrounding each other?From the word encircled used in the Hadeeth, we can deduce circular shapes and in three dimensions we can deduce spherical shapes.

Henceforth The Noble Qur’an and Prophetic Sunnah (traditions of the Prophet) preceded modern science to this scientific fact. In addition Al-Qur’an gave us the precise naming for the structure of Earth using the word “Tibaqa” or layers, and it has given us the accurate number for these layers which is seven, while scientists spent long years and changed their theories several times to come up with scientific theories previously mentioned in The Quran and Sunnah. Glory be to Allah the Greatest who said in his exalted book: “And on the earth are signs for those who have Faith with certainty, And also in your ownselves. Will you not then see?” [Athariyat, 20,21]

Sources:

An article titled “Inside the Earth” at :

http://pubs.usgs.gov/publications/text/inside.html

An educational titled “Earth’s layers” at:

http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/vwlessons/lessons/Earths_layers/Earths_layers1.html

May I Celebrate Christmas With My Christian Mother?

2008-01-11T21:46:00.000-08:00

Question: Dear brothers and sisters, as-salamu `alaykum. I am currently reverting to Islam. My mother is Catholic, my father Muslim, but does not practice. I have always celebrated Christmas even though I've never been Christian. I've read some advice that warns Muslims not to partake in other holidays, but if I don't, my mother will be very hurt. I am torn. Is it wrong to celebrate the birth of Jesus? We believe in him too, and exchanging gifts for the benefit of my mother and Christian friends does not mean that I adhere to a belief in the Trinity. Please respond; your advice would be greatly appreciated. Jazakum Allah khayran.

Answer:

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear sister in Islam, we are greatly impressed by your question, for it’s related to the affairs of the new Muslims. We seize the chance to earnestly implore Allah from the depths of our hearts to lead all perplexed men and women to the light of Islam, the true religion of Allah. We welcome all our new Muslim brothers and sisters to the fold of Islam.

Islam encourages the Muslim to have kind and compassionate relationship with his parents and all his relatives whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims. As a Muslim, you are encouraged to show all forms of kindness and mercy towards your non-Muslim mother. Let her see the true teachings of Islam as practiced by you and be a good ambassador of your religion.

Responding to the question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:

Islam is all for treating our parents, relatives and friends compassionately. As a Muslimah, it is your duty to be most gentle and kind to them, especially your parents. Allah says, (Keep their company with kindness in this world, and follow the path of him who turns to Me. Then unto Me will you return, and I shall tell you what you did.) (Luqman 31: 15)

Keeping good company of one’s parents includes accepting their invitations, eating with them all foods that are permissible for us to consume, which excludes pork, intoxicants, and that which has been immolated to idols.

You are allowed to participate in the festivities of Christmas or holiday seasons on condition that you abstain from specific religious rituals associated with them, if any. As Muslims we revere Jesus (peace and blessings be upon him) as one of the mighty messengers of Allah; we would have certainly celebrated the same, if only it had been a tradition established by Jesus and his authentic disciples. We certainly know that was not the case. It is all too well known that celebration of Christmas was introduced into Christianity in the manner of the pagan cultic rituals prevailing in the lands that the Christians conquered and as such, it is not something to be cherished as an authentic Christian festival.

Muslims refuse to deify not only Prophet Jesus (peace and blessings be upon him) but anyone else for that matter including Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). We believe in all prophets, and consider them all as preaching the same essential message: Do not worship any other gods but Allah.

It would certainly be a good idea for you to broach this topic with your parents in one of their gentler moments.

Lastly, continue to pray to Allah to open the hearts of your parents to the truth, for He alone guides (people) to Truth. Ameen.

Excerpted, with slight modifications, from: www.islam.ca

Congratulating Non-Muslims on Their Festive Occasions

2008-01-11T21:40:00.000-08:00

Question: Dear scholars, as-salamu `alaykum. Would you please shed light on the ruling of congratulating non-Muslims on their festive occasions. Please explain this issue in detail, such as congratulating them for their different festivities including national ones as well as exchanging gifts. Jazakum Allah khayran.

Answer:

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear brother in Islam, we would like to thank you for the great confidence you place in us, and we implore Allah Almighty to help us serve His cause and render our work for His Sake.

First of all, we stress that Muslims are commanded to deal justly and kindly with their non-Muslim neighbors or friends. Therefore, there is nothing wrong in exchanging gifts with them. Muslims are allowed to congratulate non-Muslims on their festive days and this becomes more of an obligation if the non-Muslims offer their greetings on Islamic festive occasions. Allah Almighty says: (When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or at least return it equally…) (An-Nisa’ 4: 86)

However, Muslims are not to celebrate or participate in the religious festivities of non-Muslims, but they can participate in national celebrations and festivities as citizens of those lands while observing Islamic manners and controls in all matters.

In response to the question you raised, the European Council for Fatwa and Research issued the following fatwa:

There can be no doubt as to the importance and the sensitivity of this issue, specially to Muslims residing in the West. The Council has received numerous questions and queries from those who live in these countries and interact with the non-Muslims. Indeed, between the Muslims and the non-Muslims are strong and integral links stipulated and deemed necessary by the means and manner of life itself, such as neighborly relations, friendship at work or study. In fact, a Muslim may actually feel indebted toward a non-Muslim in particular circumstances, such as toward a hardworking and selfless supervisor or lecturer, a sincere and skillful doctor, and others. A famous Arab said that one is enslaved by others’ favors.

Thus, what is the position of the Muslim to such people who are non-Muslims, who do not actually hold any animosity towards Muslims, do not fight them due to their religion, and did not actively seek to expel Muslims from their homes and lands?

The Holy Qur'an stipulates regulations as to how relationships between Muslim and non-Muslim are to be governed and carried out in Surat Al-Mumtahinah, which was essentially revealed to address the pagan polytheists. Allah Almighty says: (Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion and did not drive you out of your homes. Verily, Allah loves those who deal with equity. It is only as regards those who fought against you on account of religion, and have driven you out of your homes, and helped to drive you out, that Allah forbids you to befriend them. And whosoever will befriend them, then such are the wrong-doers.) (Al-Mumtahinah 60: 8-9)

Thus the verse stipulates that there is a clear difference between those who fight Muslims and treat them as enemies, and those who interact and deal with Muslims in peace. We are commanded to treat the latter well and in a just and beautiful manner, not merely give them what is duly theirs by right and to take from them what is duly ours. Indeed, the command is to treat them beyond that and to deal with them in beautiful and ideal ways.

As for the other group — to whom the verse clearly forbids any allegiance or support offered in their favor — they are those who chose to become enemies of Islam and Muslims and worked actively to expel them from their homes and lands for no reason other than that they proclaim that Allah Almighty is their Lord, as did the Quraysh and the infidels of Makkah to the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions.

Al-Bukhari and Muslim both reported on the authority of Asma’ bint Abi Bakr (may Allah be pleased with her), that she came to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "O Messenger of Allah! My mother, who is a mushrik (a polytheist), has come to visit me and she desires to be close to me and to give me gifts. Shall I greet her and treat her well?” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stated: “Greet your mother and treat her well.”

This, while the woman was a mushrik, and the Qur’an clearly states that the People of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) are far closer to Islam and Muslims than mushriks. Indeed, the Qur’an gives allowance to eat from the food of the People of the Scripture and to marry them. Allah Almighty says: (...The food of the People of the Scripture is lawful to you and your is lawful to them, lawful to you in marriage are chaste women from the believers and haste women from those who were given the scripture before your time…) (Al-Ma’idah 5: 5)

Also, if marriage is permissible with them, then it goes without saying that marriage implicitly and necessarily decrees love and closeness. Allah Almighty states: (And amongst His signs is this, that He created for you wives from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and He has put between you affection and mercy…) (Ar-Rum 30: 21) Indeed, how can a man despise his wife, who is ultimately his partner in life, his spouse, the mother of his children? Almighty Allah says: (...they are body cover for you and you are the same for them…) (Al-Baqarah 2: 187)

Moreover, an important consequence and result of marriage is the coming together of two families to form blood bonds and relationships, a natural human form of relating to one another. Allah says: (And it is He Who has created man from water, and has appointed for him kindred by blood, and kindred by marriage…) (Al-Furqan 25: 54)

Also, there are the feelings and affections of maternity, and the clearly stipulated and emphasized rights of a mother upon her children in Islam. One asks in this context: is it an acceptable act according to these stipulations that one does not greet or congratulate his or her non-Muslim mother on a day of festivity that she celebrates? What about relatives from the mother’s side, such as grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins? All those have rights upon a Muslim clearly stated in the Holy Qur'an, where Allah states: (But kindred by blood are nearer to one another regarding to inheritance in the decree ordained by Allah…) (Al-Anfal 8: 76), and also: (Verily, Allah enjoins justice and perfect mannerisms and giving to kith and kin…) (An-Nahl 16: 91)

Thus, if maternity and blood relation rights are obligatory upon a Muslim, in a way that exemplifies the beautiful manners of Islam and Muslims, it is also obligatory upon a Muslim to pay the due rights that work towards showing Muslims as people of beautiful character. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) advised Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) saying: “Be aware of Allah wherever you are, and follow up a sin that you have committed with a good deed, so that sin may be erased, and treat people with beautiful manners.” (Reported by Ahmad, At-Tirmidhi, Ad-Darmi, and Al-Hakim) As is evident, the emphasis is upon “…and treat people with beautiful manners” not “…treat Muslims”.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also strongly advised us to deal with non-Muslims in a mild and gentle manner, not using stern and terrorizing methods. It was reported that when a group of Jews approached the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and greeted him with twisted pronunciation, and thus uttered “Assam`alaykum, O Muhammad!” (meaning “death and destruction come upon you”) instead of “as-salamu `alaykum”, `A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) heard them and responded by saying, ‘assamu `alaykum also and the curse and wrath of Allah!” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) rebuked `A'ishah for what she had said. She told him, “Did you not hear what they said?” He said, “I did, and I responded by saying, ‘And upon you,’” (i.e., that death will come upon you as it will come upon me.) He went on to say, “O `A'ishah! Allah loves gentleness in all matters.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Indeed the permissibility of congratulating non-Muslims on their festive days becomes more of an obligation if they offer their greetings on Islamic festive occasions, as we are commanded to return good treatment with similar treatment, and to return the greeting with a better one or at least with the same greeting. Allah Almighty says: “When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or at least return it equally…” (An-Nisa' 4: 86)

A Muslim must never be less charitable or pleasant or indeed of lesser manners than any other, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stated in the hadith: “The most perfect believers in terms of their iman are those who possess the most beautiful manners.” (Reported by Ahmad, At-Tirmidhi, Ad-Darmi, and Abu Dawud), and he (peace and blessings be upon him) also stated: “Verily I have been but sent to perfect the most noble of manners.” (Reported by Ahmad, Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad and Al-Bazzar in Kashful Astar)

The significance of this increases dramatically if we are interested in inviting them to Islam and making them like Muslims, which is an obligation upon us all, as this cannot be achieved by treating them roughly, sternly and violently, but rather by beautiful manners and sublime ethics. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) dealt with the polytheists of Quraysh in the most beautiful of ways and manners throughout his life in Makkah despite their animosity, persecution, oppression and extreme insult of him (peace and blessings be upon him) and his companions. This was epitomized by the fact that due to the incredible trust they had in him, they deposited their wealth and possessions with him, in fear that they may be lost or stolen. When the Prophet fled Makkah to Madinah, he left behind `Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), whom he commanded to return the deposits and trusts that were with him (peace and blessings be upon him).

Thus, there is nothing to prevent a Muslim or an Islamic center from congratulating non-Muslims, either verbally or by sending a card that contains no symbols or icons of religious implications that may contradict Islamic faith and principles, such as a cross, for the concept of the crucifixion is totally outlawed and denied by Islam. Allah states in the Holy Qur'an: (...but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but the resemblance of Jesus was put over another man…) (An-Nisa' 4: 156)

Indeed, one finds in the customary words of congratulations nothing that carries any explicit or implicit recognition of any aspects of their faith or belief, nor any condoning thereof.

There is also no objection to accepting gifts and presents from them, and to return their gifts in kind, on condition that these gifts are not unlawful in themselves, such as being alcohol or pork. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) accepted the gift of the King of Egypt and several others (See: At-Tahawi's Sharh Mushkil Al-Athar).

We also wish to mention that some jurists, such as Ibn Taymiyah and his student the great scholar Ibn-ul-Qayyim, adopted stringent measures and restricted the permissibility of this issue and the participation of Muslims in the celebrations of non-Muslims. We adopt this same stance, advising Muslims not to celebrate the festivities of non-Muslims, whether mushriks or People of the Scripture, as we find some ignorant Muslims celebrating Christmas as they would normally celebrate `Eid Al-Fitr and Al-Adha, and maybe even more so. This is unlawful, as we Muslims have our unique festivities. But we see no objection to congratulating others on their festivities if there is some relationship or fellowship link that deems positive social interaction and beautiful exchange a must according to our sublime and noble Islamic Shari`ah.

As for patriotic or national celebrations and festivities, such as Independence Day, Union Day, Mother’s Day, Childhood Day and the such, there is no objection whatsoever to a Muslim congratulating others in those regards, and indeed to participate therein as a citizen of those lands, while observing Islamic manners and controls in all matters.

Excerpted, with slight modifications, from: http://www.ecfr.org

Can Muslims Celebrate Christmas?

2008-01-11T20:50:00.000-08:00

Question: Scholars of Islam, As-Salamu `alaykum wa Rahmatu Allahi wa Barakatuh. During the Christmas season, Christians all over the country illuminate their houses with lights, put up Christmas trees, and exchange gifts. TV is full of jingle bells and all the stores are decorated for Christmas. All this is very tempting to small children; children love putting up lights and decorating for holidays.

Some Muslim families also put up Christmas trees and lights to keep their children happy. They argue that Christmas is, after all, Prophet Jesus' birthday and there is no harm in celebrating Christmas as long as children are happy.

When our children started talking a few years back they started asking why we do not put up lights and trees during Christmas. I explained to them that we are Muslims and we don’t celebrate Christmas; we celebrate `Eids. To keep our children happy and to get them excited about `Eid, we started putting up lights (green and white) around the house and decorating inside the house during Ramadan until after `Eidul-Fitr and during `Eidul-Adha. We exchange gifts with our Muslims friends on both `Eids. Alhamdulillah, our children now wait for `Eid, not for Christmas.

What is the Islamic position on these issues? Can we celebrate Christmas? Is it OK to put up lights during Ramadan and `Eid?

Answer:

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear brother in Islam, we are really impressed by your question, which shows how concerned you are about the affairs of your fellow Muslims and your interest to abide by the Shari`ah in all details of your life. May Allah help us all lead a righteous life based on Islam!

Before answering your question, it is very important to note that Islam is a complete way of life and it suffices Muslims. At the same time, we should be interactive and proactive. We should not forget our role in the society. We should be a good example to others. Islam urges us to be kind with all people without any kind of discrimination due to differences in faith or race.

Muslims have their own identity. In order to keep this identity, Muslim scholars said that Muslims must not celebrate Christmas or holidays of non-Muslims. By participation in Christmas, it is possible that slowly one may lose his or her consciousness of this basic point of difference between Islam and Christianity. Muslims must be very careful in this matter. The greatest danger is for our next generation, who may slowly lose their Islamic faith in tawhid and may start believing in Jesus as "more than a prophet and servant of Allah".

We should tell our children that we are Muslims and this is not our holiday. This is the holiday of our Christian neighbors and friends. We may give greetings to our Christian friends and neighbors on their holiday, but we should not make it our own holiday.

In response to the question you posed, Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi, former President of the Islamic Society of North America, states:

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Every people have their `Eid…" Some celebrations are of a religious nature, and some others are social and cultural. Some celebrations are based on beliefs and practices that are contrary to Islamic teachings, and some celebrations are not of that nature. Some people claim that Christmas is now a secular holiday and it is very much an American national holiday rather than a religious holiday. But it is wrong to assume that because this holiday is national, it has ceased to be Christian. It is true that this holiday is very popular and it is extremely commercialized; nevertheless it is basically a religious holiday. Its very name and all its symbolism is Christian through and through.

Christians celebrate at Christmas what they believe to be the "day of the birth of God's Son" or what they call "God Incarnate". Thus it is not only a celebration of another religion, it is also a celebration that is based on a belief that is totally against the teachings of Islam. From the Islamic point of view, the belief in the "Son of God" or "God in the flesh" is a blasphemy and kufr (denial of God's Oneness). By participation in Christmas, it is possible that slowly one may lose his or her consciousness of this basic point of difference. Muslims must be very careful in this matter. The greatest danger is for our next generation, who may slowly lose their Islamic faith in tawhid and may start believing in Jesus as "more than a prophet and servant of Allah".

The argument that “Christmas is, after all, Prophet Jesus' birthday and so there is no harm in celebrating Christmas” is neither logical nor Islamic. Why should Muslims celebrate Jesus' birthday? Why not the birthdays of the other 24 prophets and messengers who are mentioned in the Qur'an by name? For us Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is the final Prophet and Messenger of Allah, not Jesus. Christians believe that Jesus was the last one and they say that "after God spoke through many prophets … in these last days he spoke to us through his son whom he made to inherit every thing" (New Testament, Hebrews 1:1). Thus they celebrate his coming, but for us Muslims, Prophet Muhammad was the last Prophet and Allah appointed him for all people and for all times to come.

I do agree that our little children are deeply affected with the festivities and glitter of this holiday. We should try to take them to some Islamic camps and conferences at this time and give them some other alternate programs and activities. But Muslim families should not have Christmas trees in their homes, nor should they put up lights inside or outside their homes at this time. We should tell our children that we are Muslims and this is not our holiday. This is the holiday of our Christian neighbors and friends. We may give greetings to our Christian friends and neighbors on their holiday, but we should not make it our own holiday.

I am pleased to know that you celebrate Ramadan and `Eids with lights and decoration of your home and exchange gifts with your children. This is very thoughtful, indeed. It is good to decorate our homes and masjids during Ramadan and for `Eids. It is mentioned in one of the Hadiths that even the heaven is especially decorated during the month of Ramadan. Allah Almighty closes the gates of Hell and opens the gates of Paradise during the month of Ramadan. We Muslims should give special attention to our own Islamic holidays. In this way our children will be attracted to our own celebrations rather than looking at others.

Unfortunately, there are some Muslims who do not pay any attention to Ramadan and `Eids. Some of them do not even come to `Eid prayers and even if they come, they do not take their day off from work. Thus their children have no idea about Islamic holidays or they think that Islam is a religion without any festivals and celebrations.

Explaining the reasons why Muslims don’t celebrate and believe in Christmas, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:

Christmas was a pagan custom which was adopted into Christianity; it has nothing to do with reverence and love of Jesus, the mighty Messenger of Allah that we Muslims hold in the highest regard and respect. If Jesus were to come today, whether or not he would identify himself with those who celebrate Christmas is a question one should ask seriously.

If we are celebrating the great teachings of Jesus or other prophets, we must do so everyday. To do so means to practice love, mercy, justice and compassion and to be actively engaged in doing the will of God.

(Source: www.islam.ca )

Israel Plans Aqsa Synagogue: Report

2008-01-11T20:29:00.000-08:00

By Yasser ba Amer, IOL Correpondent

JEDDAH — Israel plans to build a colossal synagogue at the heart of Al-Haram Al-Sharif and contiguous to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Sheikh Raed Salah, the leader of the Islamic Movement in Israel, has revealed.

"Israel plans to build the world's biggest synagogue inside the esplanade of Al-Aqsa Mosque," Salah, the head of Al-Aqsa foundation for Reconstruction of Islamic Sanctities, told Islamonline.net.

Salah, currently on a visit to Saudi Arabia, said he has obtained an Israeli document outlining in great detail an Israeli architectural blueprint to build the synagogue.

"This document sketches Israeli architectural projects supposedly to be finished in six years' time," he said.

Salah said that the leaked Israeli document has won the thumbs-up from Jewish leaders from all over the world, especially the United States, the world's superpower and Israel's traditional close ally.

The document shows that Israel has put aside $44 million to bring these projects to the light, according to Salah.

Salah said Israel wants to "legalize" its violations of the Al-Aqsa compound by forming a three-way committee comprising Muslims, Christians and Jews to supervise the works.

"Muslims and Christians would run their holy sites separately, but (the area) will be under Israel's sovereignty," he said.

The Al-Aqsa compound, known as Al-Haram Al-Sharif (Noble Sanctuary), houses the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is the Muslims’ first Qiblah [direction Muslims take during prayers] and it is the third holiest shrine after Al Ka`bah in Makkah and Prophet Muhammad's Mosque in Madinah, Saudi Arabia.

Its significance has been reinforced by the incident of Al Isra'a and Al Mi'raj — the night journey from Makkah to Al-Quds and the ascent to the Heavens by Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings be Upon Him).

The holy place represents the heart of the Arab-Israeli conflict as Jews claim that their alleged Haykal (Temple of Solomon) exists underneath Al-Haram Al-Sharif.

Encircling Al-Aqsa

Salah warned that the Israeli synagogue gambit would eventually encircle Al-Aqsa mosque.

"Their destructive schemes are aimed at controlling the mosque's all directions and parts," Salah said.

"The proposed synagogue is the last step before establishing their alleged Haykal," he warned.

According to the Israeli blueprint, the colossal synagogue will have multiple gates that lead directly to Al-Aqsa.

"The Al-Aqsa's esplanade is planned to be the courtyard of their synagogue," Salah said.

He went on: "Israel plans to close the gate leading to Al-Buraq prayer area (the western part of Al-Aqsa), and build another gate that directly leads to the area.

"Al-Maghariba Gate (one of Al-Aqsa Mosque's 14 gates) would be also shut down and a bridge established to give a direct route to heart of the mosque so that Israel guarantees a full control over the site."

On the southern edge of the mosque, Israel plans to open a gate (now closed) leading to the Marwani prayer hall, which accommodates nearly 6,000 worshipers.

Underneath the mosque's western wall, a tunnel will be dug to serve as an emergency route for Israeli occupation troops to stem "Muslim riots," said Salah.

As for the eastern wall, Israel plans to exhume the Al-Rahma cemetery underneath, which contains the bodies of some of Prophet Muhammad's companions — to build an underground metro line to transfer Jewish pilgrims to the biblical Mount of Olives (Mount Olivet east of Al-Quds), home to the world's holiest Jewish cemetery, he added.

Israeli bulldozers started in February demolishing the wooden bridge leading to the Al-Maghariba Gate and two underground rooms, sparking widespread protests in the Palestinian lands and Muslim countries.

Archeologists warn that leveling the mound upon which the wooden bridge is built would threaten the foundation of Al-Aqsa Mosque and open the way for more Israeli excavations.

A part of the road leading to one of the mosque’s main gates collapsed in February of 2004 due to the destructive Israeli digging work.

Israeli Haaretz daily revealed last month that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ordered expediting controversial excavations near Al-Maghariba Gate two days after the Annapolis peace conference.

Photos taken by Arab Knesset member Abbas Zakur showed in February that the Israeli diggings revealed two Muslim prayer rooms underneath the bridge.

The photos also showed a wall adjacent to the two prayer rooms which might indicate the existence of a mosque that was later demolished.